Apparel lacing



O. HOBSON APPAREL LACING- APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 192:.

1,41 6,203. Patented May 16, 1922.

I l/v vzw T ORLEN ms flrrafi NEX UNITED sTArEsPArer sic.

ORLEN HO-BSON, or FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. i

APPAREL ncme.

Application filed May 21,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it' known that I, ORLEN HoBsoN, a citizen of theUnited States, and resident of Fresno, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparel'Lacing, of which the following is a specification. T

My invention relates to a device designed to take, theplace of the present eyelets. in shoes and all other garments where lacing is used to fasten the same, and the object thereof is to provide a cheap, simple and eflicient device for that purpose.

Heretofore in the use of lacingfor securing garments such as shoes and the like where eyelets are used, in drawing the lacing tight enough to properly fasten the garment, owing to the overlapping of the laces on the edge of the eyelet, a pressure was exerted downwardly causing the laces to press upon the portion of the body covered thereby which was both inconvenient and uncomfortable, and one of the objects of my invention is to provide a lace fastening in which the pull exerted by the laces will be in a direct line with the edge of the garment, thus preventing the above mentioned objections to the present form of lacing.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character which can be easily and quickly positioned for use without the use of special tools.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter and while I have shown and will describe the preferred form of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to such preferred form but that various changes and adaptations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention, and while I have s own my device as applied to shoes, I do not limit myself to such particular use but claim the right to use the same as a fastening wherever laces are used at the present time.

In the drawings accompanying and formin a part hereof:

ig. 1 is a front elevation of a shoe constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one form of eyelet.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of my eyelets on an-enlarged scale in its position of use with a fragment of a shoe.

Figs. 4 and 5 are an end elevation and Specification of Letters Patent. I Patmnted y 16,1922. 1921'. Serial No. 471,301. I

side elevation respectively of another form I of eyelet.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of fragments of a shoe with my improved fastener and lacinggthereon positioned for use.

eferring to the drawings, 6 represents a shoe of'usual construction on the'front Clo-- sure edges 7 and 8 of which are mounted eyelets As shown in Figure 2 my eyelets comprise a vertically extending tubular portion' 10, the interior opening 11 of which is tapered at each end outwardly as a means for freeaccess for the lace in threading the same, and also acts to prevent the lace being damaged by the edges of said opening. Extending from the outer periphery of eyelet 9is an attaching member 12 provided at its end with a right angle prong 13 and on each edge, intermediate the ends, are also provided. similar prongs 14 and 15. In positioning this form of eyelet the prongs are projected through the material forming the.

shoe, from the inner side so that the inner edge of the eyelet will be in alignment with the closure edges of the shoe. These prongs are then clamped downwardly to lie parallel with the outer surface of theshoe andthereby prevented from displacement.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 my de vice comprises-an eyelet 16 similar in all respects to eyelet 9 and has projecting from the side thereof a securing member '17. Member 17 comprises a narrow neck 18 adjacent to the eyelet 16 and is then widened a short distance and is then tapered towards its end inwardly in substantially arrowhead shape. In positioning this form of my device for use a strip of leather or like ma- In the use of my device the parts will be.

positioned as shown in Figure 1. The laces will be extended therein in the usual manner and the shoe is laced in the same manner as at present, the advantage in my invention being that less strain isplaced upon the lace and the pull exerted by the lace is in a direct line With the closure edges of the shoe.

Having described my invention"what I claim is:

1. An eyelet fastening for garments comprising a tubular eyelet adapted to be secured to the abutting edges of the portions to be drawn together; holding means for said eyelet comprising a projection extending from the side of said eyelet and being substantially arrowhead shaped in side elevation, and being provided, at its connection to said eyelet, with a narrowed neck.

2. In a fastening for shoes and the like the combination of a strip of flexible vmaterial adapted to be folded upon itself longitudinally and to have its free ends secured upon opposite sides of each of the parts to be drawn together and being provided in its folded portion with a plurality of narrow each of said slits; and a single lacing Within said eyelets, said lacing having its central portion extending between the lower most eyelets and having its free ends ex tending through alternate eyelets on the opposed portions to be drawn together.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this l lth day of May, 1921. U

ORLEN Henson. 

